PE301 Well Logging and Interpretation
Lecture 5 – Density Log
Dr Abdullah H. Awdal
[email protected]
Density Log
• Density is measured in grams per cubic centimetre g/cm3 or kg/m3, and it is indicated by
the Greek letter ρ (RHO).
• Two separate values are used by the density log:
o The bulk density (ρb or RHOB) is the density of the entire formation (solid and fluid
parts).
o The matrix density (ρma) is the density of the solid framework of the rock (e.g.
limestone or sandstone).
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Example of Density Log
GR RHOB
0 API 200 2 G/C3 3
CALIX DRHO
6 IN 16 -0.25 G/C3 0.25
CALIY
6 IN 16
4100
Gamma ray Density
Density
correction
4200
Caliper
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Applications of Density Log
• Porosity calculation.
• Lithology identification.
• Identify evaporite minerals.
• Detect gas-bearing zones.
• Determine hydrocarbon density.
• Evaluate shaly-sand reservoirs and complex lithologies.
• Estimate mechanical properties (with sonic).
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Principles of Density Log
• Gamma rays from a chemical source (Ce137, Co60) interact with electrons of the elements
in the formation.
• Two detectors count the number of returning gamma rays which are related to formation
electron density.
• For most earth materials, electron density is related to formation density and then to
porosity.
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Principles of Density Log
• Returning gamma rays are measured at two different energy
levels:
o High energy gamma rays (Compton scattering) determine
bulk density and therefore porosity.
o Low energy gamma rays (due to photoelectric effect) are
used to determine formation lithology.
• Low energy gamma rays are related to the lithology and
show little dependence on porosity and fluid type.
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Density Porosity Calculation
• Formation bulk density (ρb) is a function of matrix density (ρma), porosity and formation fluid
density (ρf).
• Density porosity is defined as:
• Where: - Φden is the density derived porosity.
- ρma is the matrix density (see table 1 for values).
- ρb is the formation bulk density (the log reading).
- ρf is the fluid density (see table 1 for values).
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Table 1: Matrix densities and photoelectric effect (Pe) values for
common lithologies
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Chart for converting bulk density
(ρb, RHOB) to density porosity
(φD, DPHI).
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Density Log Track
• The bulk density curve is recorded in tracks # 2 and # 3, along with the correction curve
(Δρ), because the modern density log is a compensated log (dual detectors).
• Whenever the correction curve (Δρ) exceeds 0.20 gm/cc, the value of the bulk density is
considered invalid.
• The most frequently used scales are a range of 2.0 to 3.0 gm/cc or 1.95 to 2.95 gm/cc
across two tracks.
• Track # 1 contains a gamma ray log and a caliper.
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Density Log Track
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Density Logging Tools
• Formation Density Logging (FDL) utilizes single transmitter and single detector. The
measurements are affected to a large extent by the mud type, thickness and density.
• Compensated Formation Density (FDC) utilizes single transmitter and two detectors to
eliminate the effect of mud and mudcake.
• Litho-Density Tool (LDT) to measure photoelectric effect (Pe), with bulk density.
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LDT / FDC comparison
Litho-Density Tool (LDT) Compensated Formation Density (FDC)
• Detector counts high energy gamma rays • Detects only high energy gamma rays.
(compton scattering) and low energy region
(photoelectric effect).
• Measures both bulk density and Pe. • Measures only bulk density.
• Pe is strong function of matrix. • Strong function of porosity, matrix, and fluids.
• Lower statistical variation.
• Better vertical resolution.
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Vertical Resolution and Depth of Investigation
• The vertical resolution of single transmitter – single detector tool (FDL) is the distance between
the transmitter and the detector.
• The vertical resolution of single transmitter – dual detector tool (FDC) is the distance between the
two detectors. Vertical Resolution is about 10 cm (4 inches).
• Depth of investigation is inversely proportional to the density of the formation.
DOI is about 5 – 10 cm (2 – 4 inches).
Formation density
Density tool measures the bulk density of the flushed zone.
Depth of investigation 14
Factors affecting Density Log
1. Borehole diameter: if the borehole diameter is less than 10 inches, the effect of
borehole diameter is negligible.
2. Borehole rugosity and washed out zones: in both cases, density tool reads lower
formation density than expected because tool pad does not perfectly contact the wall
of the borehole.
3. Effect of hydrocarbon: residual hydrocarbon reduces rock bulk density. If the
hydrocarbon is oil, the effect is not significant. If it is gas, the effect may be significant.
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Photoelectric Factor Log (PEF or Pe) or Litho-Density
• PEF (Pe) is an index of the effective photoelectric absorption of the formation, which is
directly proportional to the mean atomic number of the formation.
• Units: barns per gram. A barn is 10-24 cm2.
• Mnemonics: PE, Pe, PEF
• Calibrated in freshwater filled limestone formation.
Where ρba is the apparent bulk density.
• ρba = ρb for most common sedimentary rocks.
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Pef of Rock and Minerals
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Factors affecting Pef Log
Drilling fluid
• The fluid in the borehole affects Pef log by increasing it remarkably if the drilling fluid
contains barite.
• The Pef log is unusable in barite muds because the Pef of barite is 266.8 and it will mask
the other minerals.
Heavy minerals
• Pef may be increased appreciably if the formation contains heavy minerals such as pyrite,
hematite, limonite and siderite, because they have high values of Pef.
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Depth of investigation and Vertical Resolution of Pef Log
• Depth of investigation of the Pef tool depends on the density of the drilling fluid and the
density of the formation.
• It is lower than 6 inches if the density of the formation is high. i.e. DOI is shallower in
denser formations.
• The vertical resolution of the Pef tool depends on the distance between the two
detectors (span) and it is about 10 inches.
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Pef Log Application
• Lithology determination
Anhydrite
Sandstone
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